woodford



23, 1932- w. H. wooDFoRb 1,873,095

ELECTRIC IMPULSE CONTACTING MEANS Filed Sept. 10, 1929 INVENTOR. Wu [SonE W0 0 dforq? A T'Z' ORNE Y S.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT orrlcr. I

WATSON n. woonronn. on Bnrnenronr, ,connnc'ricur I nLEc'raic I rULsEcon'rao'rme mmrrs Application filed September 10,1929; SerlaI'IIo.391,555.

Thisinvention'relates to electric impulse contacting means adaptedto beoperated by a diaphragm of a telephone, radioheadphone, loud speaker,microphone, or in fact most any ,5 diaphragm adapted to be actuated bythe voice or low power impulse currents. The means being so constructedand arranged as to adapt it to various uses, especially that of makingand breaking a high energetic our- 19 rent to synchronize with thepresent dominating impulses of the current or diaphragm.

The invention may be usedi'n single contact applications or in multiplesaccording to the many uses to which it is applicable, one of which beingto take a small percentage of the amplified impulse current from amicrophone, or radio receiving set and by means of one or more of mycontact units, revolve a disk with various transparent colored sections.With such a device used in connection with a rotatable disk and by theuse of concentrated rays of light, diiferent transparent colored efiectscould be reflected on a screen.

By means of one or more contacts controlled by the current impulse, themovement of the disk will synchronize with the pre-dominating impulses,as the voice or music producing1 color sensations in combination withsoun sensations.

The invention is thus not alone applicable to picture machines but mayalso be applied to advantage to radio apparatus.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides and consistsin the construction and novel combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawinand pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood thatvarious changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to withoutdeparture from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several figures of the accompanying drawing forming apartof this specification and upon which Fig. 1 shows a longitudinalcross sectional view of a loud speaker or receiving phone ineluding asuitable diaphragm and illustrating the application of the inventionthereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 show a plan and vertical sectional view-respectively of aslight modification of the invention;

Figs. & and 5 show aplan and edge view respectivelyof a multipleillustration of a series of contacting means as employed in some usesof'theinvention; and t Fig. 6 shows a multiple application of theinvention with, separate sources of current of various voltage andcapacity.

The invention is shown applied to a diaphragm '10 of the class employedinmicrophones, loud speakers, and the like, 11, and which for thepurpose of my invention must be retained in a horizontal position withthe usual hi h resistance coil magnet 12 upon the underside and adaptedto operate the diaphragmbyjfeeble impulse currents. I employ inconnection with this diaphragm one or 'more metal contact balls 13 whichmay be made solid or hollow as desired, and of suitable size-and'weightto insure their quick ac, tion by vibrations of the diaphragm wherebythe desired contacts are made. Guides 14 may beused for these balls soas to retain them central or in other proper relative areas whereby theywill function over a given portion of thediaphragm and contact withcertain pairs of wires located above and in close proximity thereto.These contact wires 15 may be arranged horizontally as shown in Figs. 1,4 and ,5 or vertical strips 15 may be used asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. Inboth instances they are arranged in exposedrelation to each other sothat, as the ball is thrown upwardagainst the wires,'they will bridgethe two, assuring minimum arcing in making contact. The rebound energyof the ball striking the two tight wires as in Figs. 1,4 and 5assures-minimum arcing at the break of contact. In Figs. 2 and 3 thevertically disposed strips 15 are adj ustably supported in a suitableinsulative holder 16 so that the ends a be bridged by the ball, shouldit be in the form of two tight wires of arc resisting metal or alloy. Itwill be obvious that the eflect will depend on the ratio of thevibrations of the diaphragm and also on the force or amplitude of thevibrations, distance between parallel contacts and diaphragm. In case oftight wire contact where most of the impact energy of the ball is notabsorbed but is utilized as reaction against the ball, the distanceshould be great enough so that the rebound energy of the ball hittingthe diaphragm will not bound back and make contact, unless by aid ofdiaphragm impulses. IVhere a number of balls are in use on one diaphragmand less current to be broken, the contacts should be made of arcresisting strips as in Figs. 2 and S. The point of maximum impulseenergy on the ball isthe center of the diaphragm where the amplitude ofvibrations is maximum.

The comparative sensitiveness of the impulse depends on the weight ofthe balls and volume, so by using a number of various weights andvolumes guided to operate on different locations of the diaphragm andwith each ball making a separate contact on the same diaphragm, it willgive a combination of contacts as between difl erent pairs of wires, seeFigs. st and 6, at different instances as depending on the amplitudefrequency and intensity of the current and diaphragm.

lVith a number of balls making a number of contacts and with eachcontact supplying a different voltage or current capacity, the result ofall contacts connected individually, in series or parallel or incombination of heavy current energy controlled by the feeble current ofapproximately one watt energizing the diaphragm or in case of themicrophone the sound energy acting on the microphone diaphragm.

A partial vacuum in the lower chamber would be used while a greatervacuum would be emloyed in the upper chamber to counterbalance theweight of the ball on the diaphragm. Owing to the partial vacuum theenergy dissipated as sound vibrations from the diaphragm and airresistance on the ball will be greatly reduced, resulting in increasedamplitude of vibrations and energy.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s :a

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratablediaphragm, of a pair of electric contact members positioned in spacedrelation to the diaphragm, a metal ball loosely positioned upon thediaphragm beneath the contact member adapted to be manipulated by thevibratory movements of the diaphragm and to contact with and bridge thesaid pair of contact members.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratablediaphragm, of a pair of electric contact wires positioned above thediaphragm, a metal ball upon the diaphragm beneath the contact wireadapted to be manipulated by the vibrating movements of the diaphragmand to contact with and bridge the said pair of wires.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratablediaphragm, of a series of electrical contact members positioned inspaced relation to the diaphragm, a series of metal balls looselypositioned upon the diaphragm and adapted to be manipulated by thevibrating movements of the diaphragm and to contact with and bridge thesaid contacts.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratablediaphragm, of a pair of electric contact members positioned in spacedrelation to the diaphragm, a metal ball loosely positioned beneath thecontact member and: adapted to be manipulatedby l the vibratorymovements of the diaphragm and be thrown: up in contact with and bridgethe said pair of contact members, and guides for the ball to insureproper line of movement of the ball.

Signed at Bridgeport in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticutthis 27th day of Anguish-A. I). 1929.

WATSON H. WVOODFORD.

